The Rashīdī History 64: THE QUARRELS OF ISAN BUGHA KHAN WITH HIS AMIRS.
The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 64
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THE QUARRELS OF ISAN BUGHA KHAN WITH HIS AMIRS.
64.1
WHEN Yunus Khan left the country, the whole tribe submitted to Isan Bugha Khan, and for a few years the country enjoyed repose. The Khan, however, by reason of his youth, was but lightly esteemed by his Amirs. One of the Amirs, a certain Timur of the Uighur tribe of Turfan, had enjoyed the special favour of the young Khan; the other Amirs being annoyed at his elevation, and at the small degree of attention they themselves received, could no longer contain their wrath, and one day, in the presence of the Khan, seized the unfortunate man and cut him in pieces. After this there was a division among the Amirs, and the Khan, much alarmed at what had taken place, fled. When this news reached Amir Sayyid Ali in Kashghar, he at once set out for Moghulistan. He found the Khan at Ak Kabas, and, accompanied by a few men, carried him off to Aksu, of which town he made him governor. Meanwhile the Moghul Amirs were acting each in his own way. Mir Muhammad Shah had taken up his abode in Atbashi, but after some correspondence and promises of friendship, between himself and his nephew Amir Sayyid Ali, he joined the Khan in Aksu; he was beloved and esteemed to the end of his life. Another was Mir Karim Bardi, who was also a Dughlat. He built a fort on the frontier of Moghulistan, on the side of Andijan and Farghana. It stood on the summit of a hillock at a place called Alabugha, and its ruins are still to be seen. He spent his time in ravaging and plundering Andijan and the Musulmans.
64.2
Mir Hakk Bardi Begjik went to dwell in a place called Kui Sui, which is in Issigh Kul. Here he built a fort, and put his wives and family on the island in Issigh Kul, that they might be safe from the attacks of the Kálmáks. Having done this, he went forth to lay waste Turkistan and Sairam. The Amirs of Jaras and of the tribe of Bárin went to join Amasanji Taishi, son of Isan Taishi, who was [chief] in the land of the Kalmaks, while Kaluji and Balgháji and several families joined Abulkhair Khan in Turkistan. The Amirs of Kunji and several others wandered, in confusion and disorder, over the desert plains of Moghulistan. But when Isán Bughá Khán had become firmly established in Aksu, first of all Mir Muhammad Shah came to him [and submitted], and after that, others returned to him in numbers. The Khán, too, repenting of his former deeds, began to treat his people with great kindness. As soon as he had regained complete authority, he made a simultaneous attack upon Sairam, Turkistan and Tashkand, and having devastated these countries, returned home. This expedition took place before the year 855 of the Hajra [1451]. A second time also, he made a similar foray into this country. At that time Sultan Abu Said Mirzá was pádisháh of Mavará-un-Nahr. He pursued the Khan and overtook him in Yángi, which in books of history is called Taráz. The Moghuls fled without offering battle, and Sultan Abu Said Mirza returned to his own country [Mavara-un-Nahr];
64.3
but when he had taken with his Amirs. Khorasan, he repaired to that country. Isan Bugha Khan went to Andijan, where Mirza Ali Kuchuk, having been put in command by Mirza Sultan Abu Said, had fortified the citadel. The Khan had troops enough to enable him to surround the citadel with a triple line of men. He ran mines in every direction. The outer fort was taken. . . . Finally peace was concluded, and many complimentary presents given [pishkash]. The Khan having taken possession of the whole district of Andijan, departed. There are to this day in Kashghar, descendants of the men who were made prisoners in this war, and they are Moghuls. When Sultan Abu Said Mirza heard this news, he was at a loss to know how he could put a check on Isan Bugha Khan. For if he advanced into Moghulistan, the Khan would withdraw to the farthest extremities of the country, whither it would be impossible for the army of Samarkand to follow him, and when the army should retreat the Khan would follow after it. Again it was out of the question to be always sending people to oppose him; for Isan Bugha's strength and numbers generally proved obstacles to the Amirs who were sent.
64.4
All this time Mirza Sultan Abu Said was intent upon an expedition against Irak, but on account of the trouble and annoyance caused him by Isan Bugha Khan, he was not able to carry out his plan of marching into Irak. So he sent to summon Yunus Khan, the elder brother of Isan Bugha Khan, from Irak, where, as has been already mentioned, Yunus was living at that time ; he then despatched Yunus Khan against Isan Bugha Khan, in order that while the two brothers were engaged in fighting one another, his own country might enjoy a little peace. The Moghul Amirs who had separated from [Isan Bugha] Khan and all those who, having built castles, would not yield obedience to him, the Khan did not oppose in their proceedings, in the hope that they would again return to [their allegiance to] him.
64.5
At that time Abulkhair Khan exercised full power in the Dasht-i-Kipchak. He had been at war with the Sultans of the race of Juji ; while Jani Beg Khan and Karai Khan fled before him into Moghulistan. Isan Bugha Khan received them with great honour, and delivered over to them Kuzi Bashi, which is near Chu, on the western limit of Moghulistan, where they dwelt in peace and content. On the death of Abulkhair Khan the Ulus of the Uzbegs fell into confusion, and constant strife arose among them. Most of them joined the party of Karai Khan and Jani Beg Khan. They numbered about 200,000 persons, and received the name of Uzbeg-Kazak. The Kazak Sultans began to reign in the year 870 [1465-66] (but God knows best), and they continued to enjoy absolute power in the greater part of Uzbegistan, till the year 940 [1533-34 a.d.]. Karai Khan was succeeded by Baranduk Khan, who was in turn succeeded by Kasim Khan, the son of Jani Beg Khan. Kasim Khan subdued the whole of the Dasht-i-Kipchak. His army numbered more than a million [a thousand thousand] men. Excepting Juji Khan, there had never reigned a greater Khan than he in that country. He was succeeded by his son Mimash Khan, who was succeeded by his brother Tahir Khan.
64.6
During the rule of this Tahir Khan, the Kazaks began to diminish; after him his brother Biridash reigned. During his rule there were only 20,000 Kazaks left. In 940 he died, and the Kazaks disappeared entirely. From the days of Isan Bugha Khan to the time of Rashid Khan, friendly relations generally existed between the Moghuls and the Kazaks. But Rashid Sultan upset this state of affairs, as will be related (God willing) in the account I shall give of Rashid Khan.